Ship hits Jacksonville bridge, investigation ongoing

Mathews Bridge, a major artery in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., but upriver from the cargo terminals, sustained heavy damage Thursday afternoon when the Navy ship 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin struck the bridge near the center span.
No injuries were reported.
The bridge will remain closed to vehicle traffic until at least Monday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation, which is performing an assessment of the damage this morning.
“Engineers and inspectors from the Florida Department of Transportation are currently inspecting the bridge to assess the damage and to develop an emergency repair schedule,” FDOT said in an advisory. “Traffic cannot be allowed on the bridge as a safety precaution to prevent potential further damage to the structure from weight imbalances and vibrations.”
Thursday evening, Ananth Prasad, FDOT secretary, tweeted the agency is “already contacting contractors to perform repairs to Mathews Bridge once structural engineers detail what needs to be done.”
According to the Coast Guard, a tug was pulling the vessel when it struck the bridge, necessitating a temporary closure of the St. Johns River for 200 yards on either side of the structure. FDOT lifted the river closure Thursday evening once it determined there was no threat to river traffic passing under the bridge.
The 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin is currently moored at the nearby Northern Florida Shipyard. The investigation into what caused the accident continues.